The Bryant Model

How To Start A High School Rugby Program

That Will Thrive Beyond Your Leadership Term

I. The Bryant Model:

II. Plan the Program:

Determine the best time of day for your practice times. The best time to get kids, is immediately after school as many will have jobs and will be able to work around their schedule. You, of course, must take the coaches work schedule into account and the coaches may not be available until after 5 P.M. What nights do the coaches have their own practice? Tuesdays and Thursdays ? Then have your high school practice on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Each team will have to work out the circumstances that they find, the best that they can. When programs become "serious," they usually find a way to move practice to five days per week.

Finding high school students willing to learn the game has been easy since rugby matches started to appear on U.S. television about 15 years ago. The students have seen rugby and think it looks like fun to play. You may even be blessed with a foreign exchange student who has played the game. There may even be father and mother who played in college.

At the first meeting, get student names, phone numbers, E-mail addresses, street address, year in school, and any rugby experience. Tell them when and where to meet for practice. You should contact your LAU President with the news of your new club and ask for support with scheduling and referees. Often youth (under-19) scheduling is done by a central authority in the union. If a new league is being formed, you will have to work out the schedule with the other coaches until the rugby union has been organized to schedule your matches.

1. B) Uniform purchase issues. Another area of difficulty, is with the need to purchase a set of uniform shirts. You are not a team until you can take the field in uniform. It is very difficult to buy a team set, in the sizes and colors, off the shelf from any of the U.S. rugby supply companies. Further, you don't really know that you have a team until they go on the field for the first match. Some one will have to purchase the first set of shirts on speculation. This could be the job the Local Area Rugby Union, as the more clubs that exist, the more union dues are collected. To date, I am sure that no LAU has ever budgeted for a set of shirts to furnish a new club… to be recovered by dues from that club. With out that support, you will either front the cost of the shirts and run the risk, or find an angel/sponsor for the uniform shirts. The shirts will last about three years and should initially be kept as a team set, until you can afford to buy extras. The kids will want to wear them to school on game day…let them. This is great advertising for your club and you won't lose shirts this way because you will know who has each shirt. For other uniform items, the kids should purchase their own shorts, socks and shoes. I always included the shorts, socks, a special club T- shirt, and the CIPP fee in the club dues structure, and issued these items when the dues were paid. (This helps get the CIPP forms returned and the dues money paid.) The CIPP forms are a lot of work for the coach if filled out individually for the "union information" that the kids have no way of understanding. I suggest filling out one form as master copy and photocopy both sides for distribution to the kids to get permission signatures, and personal data completed. When these forms are returned to you, again photocopy a set for your records and submit the original signatures to USA Rugby . This is a great time saver.
2. C) Student athlete issues. Go to the school board and ask for the state athletic association publication of student athlete eligibility. You will get a few athletes who compete in other sports and YOU must protect their eligibility in those sports if your program is to avoid a crisis of major proportion. Know the school rules on attendance, grades, behavior, and club membership eligibility. Rugby Union eligibility will usually vary some from the school and you may make some exceptions in school age and grade requirements. Indiana, varsity athletes must maintain a passing average in order to compete. I have successfully made an exception to this standard, requiring all C's or better in order to play for the "A side" rugby team. The result has been that some athletes, by being included in the practice and matches, were encouraged enough to want to play "A side" to bring their grades to a higher lever. The love of rugby will have a positive effect on any life, and a coach can use that to transfer the interest into the classroom. This point has not been lost on the Teachers/Sponsors. If a student is suspended from the school, you suspend them from rugby too. Support the schools system if you ever hope for a reciprocal relationship.

Second, Once you start a 'paid coach' program, you aren't likely to find anymore volunteers. I believe, that a scholarship or fellowship approach to university student rugby players may work better. (See Section V."Advance the Program)

Another area where funding may be helpful is in attracting a club teacher/sponsor in your target high school. Penn High School, Elkhart, Indiana is planning to pay $1,500 per semester to the club teacher/sponsor for conducting after school study hall and to tutor the rugby club members. Penn holds practice, while keeping them at the school until practice time. This idea has great merit, as it is necessary to have a teacher to have an "official school club" and the extra money would attract a teacher and reward them for being involved. Further, this plan will win major points with all of the club parents.

1. E) Growth Issues. If you are starting a boy's high school team, start planting the seeds for a girl's team (and vice versa) as soon as your team is rooted. Look to locals clubs for coaching support, but don't be afraid of holding combined boys and girls practices. I have discovered a lot of benefits for expanding the program as a single club effort. The parents of the girls are by far more aggressively supportive or you club efforts. The boys will encourage the girls and will behave better in practice, as they don't want to appear foolish in front of the girls. Further, you double the number of parents, double the teacher sponsors, double your clout in school politics without anywhere close to double the expense or effort. This growth approach has a great return on your on your time invested.

III. Establish the Program:

There are four different high school political structures that I am aware of: A) The private school, B) Public schools with a student club program administered by teachers sponsors and the principal or a vice principal C)Public schools with a club program determined by the school board. D)Public Schools with NO club program allowed. Each of these are somewhat different in some important way. Analyze your target school in advance or simply go to the target high school and ask to see the assistant principle in charge of club activities. When you meet with this person, they will tell you what system that the school employs. Sometimes, The principal will refer you to the athletic director to seek his input. For the most part, the AD visit will be a waste of your time. You really have nothing but problems for him, as far as he is concerned. The are rare exceptions, but 90% of the time, the last thing a school's established athletic team coaches want is another team to dilute the "rare athletic talent," Or even "distract" their current crop of athletes, or even add another to his current management, budget and head aches. He still remembers what when soccer came in the door.

1. A) Private schools. In order to start a rugby club at a private school, you need the support of the parents. The President or Head Master will order the athletic department to add rugby as a sport if he sees that " those who pay him" are serious about a rugby program. This is no harder than finding some parents of current or future students.

The Arguments against having a rugby program.

YOU WILL BE TOLD THAT:

1. 1) "No one is interested in another sport in our school."
2. 2) There are no fields available for your practice matches."
3. 3) "I remember rugby players from my university days, they were rowdy and heavy drinkers"
4. 4) "Rugby is a very dangerous sport and school can't accept the liability."
5. 5) "Rugby isn't a sport in the state high school athletic association and therefore the school isn't 'allowed' to have a rugby team."

The answers to the arguments: KNOW THE ANSWERS before the meeting.

ANSWERS:

1. 1) "If no one is interested, we will know this at the call out meeting." ( I have never had less than 22 kids show up at the first call out… and then they will bring out others. In the first season you want to have 20 to 25 kids at the tournament. This is a solid start for a rugby program.)
2. 2) "If you don’t have a field for our practice, the local parks department is always willing to find space for youth sports activities." (In fact, field space will be one of the greater challenges as soccer and lacrosse have captured every available field in some parts of the country. Be creative, check with local colleges and universities especially if they have a rugby club. They should be delighted to help with youth programs. The rugby clubs, not necessarily the university administration. Try to work out a "youth sponsorship" relationship with the local clubs as that status will help them gain access to fields for you and retain access for them at the same time.)
3. 3) "Yes, that was probably a long time ago when there were no coaches for the college clubs, and with out supervision, college students can be rather rowdy, don't you agree? Today, all of the Division I college teams now have coaches and many of the smaller college teams do as well."
4. 4) "Liability is not an issue. USA Rugby Union provides liability insurance with club registration. (Call USA Rugby for a copy of the policy and details about 'additional insured,' to cover the school and parks department.)"
5. 5) "The State Athletic Association, as you know, has never started a new sport actually, many of the current high school sports pre date the athletic association by many years, while soccer, volleyball,

Further, the National Federation of State High School Association (NFSHSA) has selected the American Coaching Effectiveness Program (ACEP) as the vehicle to provide consistent coaching training that provides a solution to ease the concerns of parents, legislators, and administrators and to address the needs of interscholastic coaches. This course is called the: "National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Educational Program (NFICEP) and there are several instructors in many communities across every state that participates. (see page 20) Indiana requires this course for all non-faculty coaches. As this is the recognized system you need to get this training as soon as possible in order to remove this barrier to mainstream acceptance. Additional information may be obtained through your state high school athletic association office.

1. C) School Board approval. The third type of school club structure is one that requires the school board to screen all student clubs, In this case, go to see the Superintendent and let him know what you are doing, Ask if there are any forms for this purpose and if you should plan a formal presentation to the board, Write a letter to Superintendent detailing your meeting and follow up on his recommendations, It will help to identify, Student, teacher, and parent support for your plan, and bring these people or these details to the board meeting. (Note: If you are unable to gain a positive result from these efforts, See: Section IX, "Evansville Soccer.")
2. D) No School Clubs Allowed. The fourth school structure that you may encounter is a school system that allows no student clubs what so ever. This attitude actually exists at Highland High School, in Salt Lake City, with the most outstanding high school rugby program in the United States. The Rugby Club, calls itself "Highland High," and has students from that school, But no official affiliation. It is a community based club and will remain so until the Athletic Department chooses to adopt rugby in to the Varsity programs. As a means of explanation, this very rare circumstance exists because of the "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual (GLB) Liberation" and "Satanic," or even "Christian," club efforts to seek "equal rights" access to the student population of certain public schools. The schools often "dump" all club activities in order to avoid the negative publicity, boycotts and lawsuits. The answer is here, is that you start a community club, outside the school, Contact USA Rugby and ask for the "Rugby Club Start up Kit.")

IV) Stabilize the Program

Now that you have your club established, you must continue to improve relations with the school principal, assistant principal in charge of club activities, the superintendent, the local sports media, and the business community. Your players' parents will be a great asset in this.

1. A) Be an "official" club. Just because the school allowed you to meet with the students and organize a club doesn’t mean that you are an "official club." Check the School's literature and ask the principal for the list requirements for "full" affiliation as a school club, There will be some standard according to the rules of the school district for extra curricular activities. There are restrictions involved. It is more difficult to accomplish. You must recruit a "teacher sponsor." The football coach and athletic will usually fight you every step of the way. The book store manager, or some other school employee, may be required to receive all moneys raised and disburse them for the clubs benefit from you voucher requests. This need not be the only funding method, However, as I recommend the parents and local fans form a supporters organization that goes beyond the school's activities. A "Touch Line Club" (SEE APPENDIX 3, for detailed purpose of TLC) should be focused on all the rugby played in the community and therefore will not come under any one school's jurisdiction. The "TLC" can develop and sponsor elementary rugby, organize trips to see the local Men's and Women's club teams play or Organize a bus trip to see an "Eagles Match" etc… Support the local College Clubs with attendance and scholarships for players and coaches.
2. B) Benefits vs. Obligations. The school may have other requirements as well. I believe that the benefits far outweigh the trouble. You may obtain school buses for away trips. You may meet during the school day as other clubs. You may use school grounds for practice and matches. Even use the football stadium for your rugby matches if you can justify the expense with a paid gate, or sponsored event. The school will require an annual list of student club members to verify that they are all currently students in the High School. In Indiana, and probably most other states, the law allows for any "home schooled" student in the school district to participate in any extra curricular activity that is offered by the school. This is not publicized and very little known by home schoolers. The other eligibility rules will be set by the rugby union. High school students should not play with Adult Clubs. Playing with college or adult clubs may make them not eligible for high school play and could raise "liability issues" if a player is injured. Check the current Law Book on High school eligibility.
3. C) Athletic Directors and Football Coaches. Don’t waste time trying to work with the athletic director or unfriendly football coaches. They normally will see rugby as a threat to their empire…taking good athletes away from the current sport offerings and challenging them for financial support. You may be fortunate enough to find one of the few intelligent football coaches who will recognize his opportunity to develop his football team by using rugby as a "Off Season Training Tool." Normally football coaches will remain hostile because there is the obvious threat that the kids will find something that is fun to play because they get to make decisions on the field and they get to carry the ball too. As I see it, this will not be a long term problem.
4. D) Start another team for girls (boys) next. Encourage a girls (boys) club to organize. Usually the girl friends of the boys team, have attended games and will already have become fans, They will be ready to organize in the second or third year after the boys started. We have already discussed the advantages in another section of the paper.

V) Advance the program:

How does one go about penetrating the "golden ghetto," of teaching universities? In 1991, the year after establishing the pilot high school program in the Midwest, I discovered that my own college club, Indiana University, was in dire straits. Even though the high school programs were sending players to college, many were not continuing with rugby. 1) In high school the players had organized practices with an adult coach.(Most University Recreational Club Sports Programs want the under graduates to run the programs.) 2) The university rugby culture was a "drinking club" with a rugby excuse. (Large schools have lots of ways to waste a student's time and serious athletes will find a serious activity.3) the alumni didn't see the program as serious and therefore would not support it with serious money. 4) The club had actually been "kicked off campus" due to a lack of organization. (No officer reported the budget or season schedule to the office of Rec. Sports, and the club was determined to be disbanded by RCS.)

The solution: An emergency meeting of the alumni. A coach was appointed and his direct expenses were funded by alumni members. A new Club Constitution was written that gave the coach authority over all matters in practice, eligibility, and selection of the team. A committee of five was established to oversee the coach's activities. (Three alumni (paying the expense), one university staff person, the rugby club president.) The alumni, then searched for the very best rugby coach that could be found who would be interested in pursuing an advanced degree through a fellowship funded by alumni members through the "Rugby Education Academy, Inc." This Non Profit Corporation was put together in order to channel funds quickly to the needs without going through the committee and approval process of the university departments. The club went through a cultural change, but became competitive in the first season under the new structure. The team qualified for the Division I, Sweet Sixteen in the third year of the new program, the final four in the fourth year, and continues to be on of the "Elite Eight" consistently challenging for the national championship. The next goal is to build an "endowment" the coaching program that will include a "professor of rugby". To coach, and teach rugby coaching and refereeing, and administration in the classroom for college credit.

In this state, Indiana University is the largest university system with eight campuses. This is the best target system in this state to place the best professional coaching available and gain the greatest state wide influence for advancing the game. Work with the alumni of the rugby club to get this as a goal, accomplished. If you are wanting to start a smaller College club in your area, It may occur naturally. There will be a growth of new clubs shortly after your high school scholars graduate from your program. High school graduates who have the combination of a love of rugby and the spirit of and entrepreneur are quite common. They will start the club when they discover their chosen college is without a rugby presence. Go to the university foundation office and find out what is necessary to establish and endowment fund for the rugby club. It may take several years just to set up the fund with terms that will preserve it just for rugby. Insist on this in writing and read the fine print carefully, before you sign off and make the initial contributions. Rugby will not be the foundation's priority for many years to come.

Once this system is in place, consider duplicating the system of coaching fellowships at each of the universities campuses. Each coaching fellow, while working on an advanced degree, would have the responsibility of starting and coaching the campus club. Extend this program into the local high schools with older college players as coaches. Repeat the system as before.

VI) Finance the Program:

Start a "Touch Line Club," A supporters club made up of alumni, parents, grandparents, old ruggers living in the area, friends of players, local business, etc. Charge dues, and find a slogan to print on a yard poster to sell to members: "We Support Wildcat Rugby," "RUGBY FOR SERIOUS FUN!" "This is a SOUTH rugby Family!" I like any fund raising project that ties back to the activity. Tournaments can raise a lot money if they are done well. Buy a block of tickets to an Eagles Match, or the national Collegiate Championship, at a deep discount from the promoter, and then sell the tickets with a bus trip to your fan club in a package trip to the match. (Trips are great for bonding people together for a cause)

1. B) Raising money working for others as a club. If there is a major sporting event held in your area, it is always possible to work as group at concessions, or selling programs, to make money for your club. Publications are a lot of work but can be great fund raisers. Penn High School Rugby Club, in Elkhart, Indiana, Sells advertising in a program that nets over $20,000 profit annually. This covers all their expenses and plane trip to the National High School Tournament. Be creative and share your ideas with others who are trying to solve the same problems.

VII) Public Relations for the Program:

The public relations activities are often taken for granted. Yet, with a little knowledge of the PR system existing in every community, you can build a powerful public presence with very little effort. A "public" is understood to be a "group" of people with similar needs or interests that in turn, may be influenced by what you are doing. Know who your publics are: A) The students that you are coaching. B) The other students at the school. C) The high school staff, the custodians and bus drivers, your teacher sponsor, the principal, the superintendent, the school board. D) The parents and family members. E) The other rugby clubs in your area: college clubs, Community clubs, the LAU. F) The greater community where your club members live. The parks department, YMCA/YWCA, the Boys/Girls Clubs and of course the physical education teachers at all education levels.

Consider each of these groups for what they may need from you in the way of information, not what they can do for you. Look for the best way to communicate with their group and serve their information needs.

1. A) The students on your team. The students need recognition and identification for their accomplishments. If your program is "varsity"…Matt Godek supplies a Brass "varsity rugby" pin in the shape of a rugby ball. If your program is a club, you may purchase a six inch chenille shield, in White with Black letters, that says "Rugby 1^{st XV" For display on system of chevrons for each year of service. Custom patches may be ordered tournaments and special accomplishments: State Champions, High School All American, All State Team, etc…(see pg 20)}
2. B) The other students at the school. The students who are not playing rugby at the schools, have friends who may be curious about your activities. They will want to attend matches and support your team any way they can. Some day, many of them will want to join the club, or they have little brothers and sisters who will be a part of your program. Encourage their interest by where you practice and where and when you play your matches. Have a "fan appreciation day" home match with free food.
3. C) The high school staff. These folks don't want you to make their jobs more difficult by trashing the grounds, buses, locker rooms, and halls. Further, special recognition when a teacher, bus driver, or custodian has gone to special effort for your team, must be recognized in writing. After forcing the issue of the use of school grounds through the superintendents office that placed the teacher sponsor in a political vice, I wrote a "special letter of commendation" to the teacher. (See Appendix 2 and 2a) All students and parents signed the letter and copies were sent with cover letters to the school principal and superintendent with the request that the commendation be added to the teacher's personnel file. You simply can't be all trouble if you expect to win support.
4. D) Parents and family members. These people just want to be informed about your activities and plans. Printed schedules, and programs on "how to be a rugby spectator," are very important. Have at least two meetings with the parents during the season, and have them help you plan the awards banquet at the end of the season. Parents prefer that a school bus is used for team transportation.
5. E) Other rugby clubs in your LAU. Other clubs in your area want to know your activities as they may encourage your graduates to join their ranks by use of special programs and scholarships. Much of the support for your rugby program will come from your local rugby union. The training of referees and coaches is sponsored by the union and the clubs will sponsor many of the youth programs that provide the competition for your youth program. You must attend the union's "Youth Club' meetings for the collective understanding of organization issues in your area. Let everyone else know what ideas have worked for you, and what are your current obstacles for youth rugby advancement. Your program may have an answer that works for someone else.
6. F) The community where the club members live. The public relations to the general community takes a media campaign to reach, but in the long run will make your work easier as more people will know about your efforts. Find a parent who will take pictures of your team. Individual photographs, team shots and action shots as well. Develop an archive for current and future needs. Scan the pictures into a CD ROM. This is a great way to preserve the history and copies can be used as fund raiser. Send press releases in the local newspapers, but only when the information is of interest to the general community: i.e..the significant accomplishment of a student athlete who plays rugby on your team…National Merit Scholar Finalist, All State Team Selection, All American Team Selection, perfect score on the SAT, your team finishes season very well…as State Champion, or Runner Up. Etc. ALWAYS INCLUDE A

If your club should qualify for the regional or national tournament, invite the head football coach, the athletic director and the principal to go at your club's expense. Even if the can't go, you will improve your relationship in the Athletic Department and the school.

The graduates of your program will move on, but after three or four years you should try to hold a season finale with an Old Boys and Old Girls match. Plan this far enough in advance for families to attend a cook out and/or a dance. In time you may make it a large part of the "graduation week" activities. This helps communities keep the ties to the past and it will help with fund raising for scholarships or a community club house and grounds when you need to grow your program.

Send your young players